Purobeach Menorca – Review

Menorca remains the quiet Balearic destination, a place where you can experience authentic island life and still enjoy contemporary indulgences. Purobeach Menorca, the brand’s Oasis del Mar beach club, is found in the hamlet of S’Algar on the island’s south-east coast, opposite AluaSoul Menorca, part of the Hyatt Collection.

The water off S’Algar is remarkably clear. It’s a popular scuba diving destination, away from more popular beaches and coves of Menorca. Here you can savour the luxury of a laid-back interpretation of a Balearic Oasis del Mar beach club. There are the brilliant white day beds, the shimmering aquamarine pools and signature cocktails, but the day has a slower pace. From the swimming platforms constructed over the volcanic rocky shore, just below Purobeach Menorca, you dive straight into the bay. Bring a snorkelling mask, so you can gently drift above the pale sand, posidonia meadows and shoals of fish.

The hidden Balearics

Balearic bliss comes in many forms, from the bohemian style of Formentera and the energy of Ibiza to the beaches of Mallorca, with each drawing millions of visitors a year. Menorca has somehow escaped the impact of mass tourism. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993, the island promises historic cities, secluded Mediterranean coves and a rolling pastoral landscape renowned for some of the finest produce in the Balearics. It is small enough to cross in a car in under an hour, from the charming former capital of Ciutadella in the west to the port city and capital of Mahón in the east, which lends its name to the island’s famous cheese.

Oasis del Mar in S’Algar

On the south-east coast, in the small fishing hamlet of S’Algar, Purobeach Menorca brings a flavour if its beach club glamour to this quiet corner of the island. Inaugurated in 2023, the club has the unmistakable Puro look, with Balinese beds, shaded by cream parasols, set around pools and sub-tropical plants. There’s a covered al fresco restaurant, a terrace bar and a wellness zone for massages, along with a boutique of sustainable fashion and accessories, all looking out over the Mediterranean.

Over the years I have followed Purobeach from its beginnings in Mallorca to the new flagship club in Poreč, Croatia. Menorca embodies the original essence of the brand, a place to slow down, feel free, and let you find your joy.

Slow days by the sea

The club opens at ten. Take a sunbed or day bed and a welcome tray arrives with chilled water. Through the season there are themed day passes too, like Summer at Puro, Birthday, Champagne Balinese and Gastro by the Sea.

Lunch at the club

Dining is a highlight. The kitchen follows the Puro M3 concept, shorthand for Miami, Melbourne and Marrakech. This is a modern take on street food from around the world, and here many dishes reflect local island produce. Start with the tomato and Mahón cheese salad, with local Menorcan tomatoes mixed with tasty cubes of the PDO cheese dressed with olive oil and fresh herbs. The bluefin tuna tartare, seasoned with soy, olive oil and ponzu and served with avocado and kimchi mayonnaise, is a great dish to order. As well as the Josper-grilled scallops in their shells, finished with garlic, parsley and lemon, served on a bed of coarse salt. You can also find the TNT prawns, a Purobeach classic of big prawns in tempura with spicy mayonnaise.

The rices, cooked for a minimum of two, include the locally inspired Señoret rice, a sautéed base of cuttlefish and squid finished with peeled seafood and crowned with grilled scallops in their shells, which was excellent. There is also a Menorcan red prawn rice, and a fideuá with allioli for those who prefer noodles to grains.

At the bar

Cocktails are mixed with style. The Puro World list gives each club in the family its own signature, and Menorca’s is the Berries Blizz, with vodka mixed with triple sec, passion fruit and blackberries. The summer list includes a Flor de Menorca Spritz made with Glop gin and an elderflower liqueur from Ferreries, finished with lemon and soda or cava, and a Mandarina Sunset made with a Menorcan mandarin liqueur, vodka, lemon and orange juice. Puro regulars will enjoy the Fresh Negroni from Poreč beach club on the list too.

Wellness

You can also have a relaxing treatment as part of your day. The club has a wellness zone offering massage treatments. In addition, if you are staying local at the AluaSoul Menorca, you can extend the feel-good vibes with an excellent treatment in their spa.

The crowd

The crowd is relaxed and modest. After lunch you might get into a game of shuffleboard with guests from the neighbouring AluaSoul resort. It is a very different tempo from the Palma original, and I liked it.

AluaSoul Menorca

Directly opposite the club is AluaSoul Menorca, an adults-only four-star hotel within a Hyatt Collection. It is a low-key resort hotel rather than a luxury one. The rooms to choose are the spacious bungalow suites with private plunge pools, or the sea view rooms which like the suites, have access to a private lounge stocked with all-day snacks, refreshments, wine and beer.

The team are eager to help you make the most of your stay, arranging visits to nearby attractions such as Binibeca, the picture-book village of whitewashed homes and narrow flagstone paths that open on to glimpses of a small fishing harbour and azure water.

Those who want somewhere with more character should split the trip, a few days of Purobeach living in S’Algar and a few days in Mahón.

Old-school Menorca

There is an old-school charm to this island. Protected from development, Menorca has been remarkably successful in retaining its distinct identity that has been forged by its strategic position in the Mediterranean. The French and the British both held naval bases here, and the British governed the island for much of the 18th century. Wander the streets of Mahón today and you still see Georgian houses with their large sash windows in the English style, while the harbour is said to be one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

Can Albertí 1740, Mahón

I checked in at Can Albertí 1740, a boutique bolthole on an elegant street in Mahón’s historic centre. It is a grand house with a very homely feel. The first-floor salon is filled with books, and there is an honour bar, so you pour yourself a drink as if a guest in a friend’s rather splendid house. Rooms are set over three floors, with original features and an elegant, timeless design. Mine came with a large bathroom under the eaves and a stylish soaking tub, a welcome treat after a day exploring the city’s historic sights, the market, the tapas and pintxos bars, and the nearby Illa del Rei.

Hauser & Wirth on Illa del Rei

A short boat ride from the quay takes you to Illa del Rei, a small islet within the harbour, home to a 18th-century former naval hospital. Here the gallery group Hauser & Wirth has turned the outbuildings into contemporary art spaces, surrounded by Mediterranean gardens designed by Piet Oudolf, where you can discover sculptures and installations. The hospital itself is being restored by the volunteers of the Fundació Hospital Illa del Rei. Stay for lunch at Cantina, the gallery’s al fresco restaurant and meander the gardens searching our the sculptures.

Information

Purobeach Menorca is open for the season from 1 June to 20 October, with sunbeds, day beds, dining and wellness reservations available through the website. The club is a short taxi ride from Mahón airport, and the beaches of Cala Alcaufar and Es Caló Blanc are within a few kilometres. The beach club makes a perfect addition to a Menorca stay.

You can read The Luxury Editor review of Purobeach Poreč here, and The Luxury Editor reviews of Purobeach Barcelona here and Purobeach Resort Santa Ponsa.